Ayade breaks down in tears as he signs N1.3trn budget into law in Cross River

The Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, could not hold back
his tears at the State Executive Council chambers while signing the
historic 2018 budget of N1.3 trillion into law.

Ayade, who had asked that the budget be committed to God, broke down
in tears as prayer was being said by Rev. Fr Bob Etta, the Special
Adviser on Religious Matters.

Signing the budget tagged, 'Budget of kinetic Crystallisation,' Ayade
stressed that, "Cross River State must create a new vista, prospect,
horizon and income pattern that will define us by what we are and not
what the world sees us to be," pointing out that, "we must put an end
to the civil service status of Cross River and we can only achieve
this when we think out of the box."

Amid sobs and tears, Ayade said that in budgeting such amount, his
administration was driven by a conscious determination anchored on a
very clear ambition, with timelines and clear performance indicators
that measure for the people what they expect in order to change their
story.

Ayade also said, "In the 21st century you don't look before you leap,
you leap before you look. Great men all over the world are being
driven by visions and any man who sees with his eyes, his vision would
be impaired by mountains, bridges, houses and trees. A great visioner
who sees with his mind and soul is not impaired by any obstruction
neither can money be an impediment.

"It is very clear that there will be conflicts between expectations
and what we will get, but we will be driven by we-can-do it spirit
while decoupling ourselves from the continuous dependence on federal
allocation."

Ayade further maintained that the state was in "need of a stabilising
factor, a budget of this nature to be able to cushion the impact of
the internal crisis that do arise, particularly at a time we are
setting an agenda for a new prosperity that will change our story."

According to him, within 35 months, his administration has completed
and secured the entire approvals for the superhighway project,
completed detailed design of the deep seaport project, achieved the
EIA approvals for both the deep seaport and superhighway, commenced
the dualization of the Calabar- Odukpani dual carriageway, as well as
commenced massive preconstruction works including land
acquisition/clearing and massive dredging at the deep seaport.

He highlighted other projects executed within the short period
including tbe completion of the garment factory and pharmaceutical
company with the later awaiting commissioning, completed Rice City
with the commencement of installation works, completion of earthworks
on the 148km dual carriageway in the northern senatorial district, the
agro industrial park, the rice mill in Ogoja and the cocoa processing
plant in Ikom, with the equipment for the plant paid for and awaiting
delivery.

Ayade therefore, enjoined Cross Riverians to "be united by these
common aspirations that these projects which will indeed kinetically
crystallise all our ambitions when we all put our hands on the table,"
adding that, "as part of the philosophy of this budget, we focus on
human capital development to put food on the table which was part of
the agenda we did in year one and two, to say here we come with a new
agenda, food on the table, hands on the plough."

Speaking earlier, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, John Gaul
Lebo assured that the House of Assembly will perform its oversight
functions to ensure that the budget is crystallized for the benefit of
democracy in the state.